RACHEL ALEXANDRA - 2009 Preakness Stakes

Calvin Borel made the right choice and history was made May 16 at Pimlico, when for the first time, the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner not only ran in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) but won the race in convincing fashion. Rachel Alexandra won the middle jewel of the Triple Crown by a length over Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird.

The week following her win in the Oaks, Rachel Alexandra was purchased by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick and transferred from trainer Hal Wiggins to Steve Asmussen. Borel, who had ridden both Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks and Mine That Bird in the Derby, was asked to continue riding the filly and he agreed.

Mine That Birds trainer, Chip Woolley, picked up Mike Smith on the Derby winner.

It made for one of the most intriguing Preakness Stakes ever, and after drawing post 13, Borel knew he would have to send the filly from the outset, which he did.

Big Drama, under John Velazquez, who had the rail, was an obvious pacesetter and he went with the filly as the field went down the stretch the first time and through the first turn. They went the opening quarter in :23.13 and the half in :46.71.

Borel was able to open up just a bit on the backstretch but he had used the daughter of Medaglia dOro a great deal to get the lead and knew he had to try and slow the pace a bit.

"I was comfortable early, but down the backside they started to pick it up," Borel said.

Big Drama, who had skipped the Derby, was still in second down the backstretch, followed by Friesan Fire, the beaten favorite in the Derby, and Papa Clem, who had run fourth in Louisville. They went six furlongs in 1:11.01.

Meanwhile, Smith had Mine That Bird settled nicely in last of the 13 runners but he was only about a dozen lengths from the lead and waiting to make his run.

As the field made the turn for home, Borel asked Rachel Alexandra to open up and she moved out in front by four lengths.

Smith had Mine That Bird on the move but he had to go wide and then split horses to make his run. Another horse had also made a move to get in contention, and that was Musket Man and Eibar Coa. Mine That Bird was able to move past the gutsy Musket Man but could not catch a laboring Rachel Alexandra.

The final time for the 1 3/16-miles was 1:55.08.

"She was struggling at the end," Borel said. "She was pricking her ears and I had to get after her."

Despite tiring at the end of the race, Rachel Alexandra coasted home under the wire to cheers from those in attendance under skies that had spit rain starting just 10 minutes to post. She had again confirmed just how special she is, and Mine That Bird had proven he was not a fluke Derby winner, despite his 50-1 odds at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra was the heavy favorite in the race, going off at 9-5 and paying $5.60, $4.60, and $3.60. Mine That Bird returned $8.60 and $4.80, while Musket Man paid $5.